NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release
Thursday, December 16, 1993
Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats
Post Office Box 11311
Salt Lake City, Utah 84147-0311
(801)461-5058 metropolitan Salt Lake City telephone number
(800)864-0310 national toll-free telephone number
Tear sheet requested
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Viatic
al bill tops GLUD legislative agenda
SALT LAKE CITY - A bill that would allow terminally il
l people to sell their life insurance in "viatical settlements" for
supplemental income will be the top legislative priority for Gay and Lesbian
Utah Democrats leaders during the 1994 Utah Legislat
ure which convenes on Monday, Jan. 17.
The bill is called the "Purchase of Insurance Proceeds" and would overturn a
state insurance-department regulation which was adopted last July and banned
viatica l-settlements of life insurance. The bill's sponsor, Democratic state Rep.
Pete Suazo, called
the bill one of his three most important bills this year.
"Terminally ill people such as people living with AIDS must be allowed to
sell their life insurance for supplemental income to help pay the m
ounting costs of their illnesses," GLUD Founder David Nelson said. "Without
worrying about th
eir financial stability, most terminally ill people can live healthier,
longer lives." Nelson helped
write the bill and will be a full-time GLUD lobbyist for its passage.
"This issue is simply a m
atter of Utahns being able to sell their personal property when and to whom
they wish," GLUD Executi
ve Director Dale Sorenson said. "By selling their life insurance, terminally
ill people can actually save the state money by avoiding or delaying their
dependance on local and state health-care and inc
ome-assistance programs."
"We're asking everyone who cares about terminally ill people to call or write
to us and their state lawmakers, and ask them to vote for this vital
legislation," Nelson said.
NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release
Thursday, December 16, 1993
Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats
Post Office Box 11311
Salt Lake City, Utah 84147-0311
(801)461-5058 metropolitan Salt Lake City telephone number
(800)864-0310 national toll-free telephone number
Tear sheet requested
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rp
^BC-
Gay,204<
Orton and Shepherd confirm nondiscrimination policies
SALT LAKE CITY - During separate meetings in December with Gay and Lesbian
Utah Democrats leaders, Democratic U.S. Reps. Bill Orton
and Karen Shepherd confirmed that they've adopted policies in their offices
which ban employment discrimination against sexual orientation.
In her meeting with GLUD leaders, Rep. Shepherd said that she implemented the
policy during her first month in office and remains committed to a federal
nondiscrimination bill. Reps. Orton and Shepherd confirmed their policies
during an effort by the Washington, D.C.-based Human Rights Campaign Fund to
have every member of Congress adopt such policies. The effort was in re
sponse to three Oklahoma U.S. representatives who announced in October that
they wouldn't hi
re bisexual, gay or lesbian congressional staffers.
"These policies mark a good first step for ever
y member of Congress to ban homophobic discrimination," GLUD Executive
Director Dale Sorenson said.
"With their adoption of these policies, members of Congress will begin to
understand how importan
t this kind of protection is to us."
The Orton and Shepherd policy announcements came during the same week that
the White House and the U.S. Department of Justice announced two similar
policies which protect employees of the Executive Office of the President and
the department including the FBI.
NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release
Thursday, December 16, 1993
Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats
Post Office Box 11311
Salt Lake City, Utah 84147-0311
(801)461-5058 metropolitan Salt Lake City telephone number
(800)864-0310 national toll-free telephone number
Tear sheet requested
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rp
^BC-Gay,161<
GLUD begins fifth
year, adds toll-free number
SALT LAKE CITY - Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats will mark its fourth
anniversary in January by offering its new national toll-free telephone
service. The number is (800)864-0310 and lets GLUD supporters outside the
metropolitan Salt Lake City calling area learn more about
the group and its activities.
"This year, we plan to take the success that GLUD has enjoyed during its four
years and make it available to everyone in our state and across the United
States,"T GLUD Chair Michael Aaron said. "This new service lets rural bisexual, gay
and lesbian Utahns
stay in touch with our work."
Aaron pointed out that the service will help GLUD identify and assist
bisexual, gay and lesbian people and their families and friends attend their
neighborhood voting-pr
ecinct political-party caucuses which are planned for Monday, March 28. "One
of our goals for our fifth year is to elect more Democratic convention
delegates than ever before. This service will let us do that."
The telephone number for local callers remains (801)461-5058.
Description
Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats
Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats is a four-year-old political-action committee
serving as a party caucus, fund-raising and volunteer resource, and lobby for
bisexual, gay and lesbian people, and our families and friends. For more
information, write to Post Office Box 11311, Salt Lake City, Utah 84147-0311,
or call (801)461-5058 or (800)864-0310 outside the metropolitan Salt Lake
City calling area.